Product Handling Matters

Throwback Thursday: Thanksgiving Edition.

At a previous company - the lead up to Thanksgiving was our biggest single shipping day of the year. We would push out truckloads of frozen turkeys in a single day. Upon receipt of the birds, I'd create a video that was distributed to our fulfillment centers on proper handling. Because how you handle product inside the warehouse determines everything about the customer experience outside of it.

During peak season, the margin for error disappears. A dropped case, a poorly stacked pallet, a missed temperature check - small slips become big problems fast. And when the customer is counting on a frozen turkey to arrive on their doorstep rock-solid and on time, “good enough” simply isn’t.

The fundamentals:

Gentle, consistent product handling. Product shifting in transit creates micro-perforations to the packaging (if you've ever juices in your fridge during thawing - this is likely a result of poor handling). In the case of the birds - using two hands to hold the bird versus picking up from the packaging ends prevents a leaker. From receiving to pick/pack, every touch point mattered. No shortcuts, no assumptions.

Temperature discipline - staged, packed, and loaded like clockwork to keep product in spec - even when volume spiked.

Smart packing and pallet configuration - because the best-case scenario is a shipment that never has the chance to shift, fall, or thaw.

Fulfillment built around anticipation and not reaction - good planning prevents bad surprises. The result? Thousands of frozen turkeys delivered to families across the country - intact, on time, and exactly as expected.

In supply chain, excellence isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s the quiet routines, the disciplined touches, and the care taken long before the shipment leaves the dock that make the biggest impact.

Proper handling isn’t just a warehouse practice. It’s a customer experience strategy.

Happy Thanksgiving!